Kristian Garic

Kristian: Competition wide-open at Saints OTA?s

by Kristian Garic,posted May 30 2013 6:16PM

Kristian@wwl.com

Tenacious D? The Saints have the second week of Organized Team Activities in the books, and the defense continues to digest the new 3-4 scheme implemented by Rob Ryan. However, it's hard to get a gauge on the progress they are making without pads.

Saints color analyst Hokie Gajan pointed out to me that if the D sometimes looks less than spectacular at practice, consider whom they are going up against.

"When you're facing Drew Brees, he's going to make you look bad at times," Hokie said. Thankfully, the Saints D won't have to face #9 every week of the season when it comes game-time.

One thing we saw at practice is the aggressive scheme from Ryan and the players. In team drills, the defense forced Drew Brees to pull the ball down and go to his third for fourth read in the play.

"It was a little more exotic out there with our looks (on defense) and there were some mistakes so it made it look more exotic," explained Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan.

Morgan: After wide receiver Joe Morgan's arrest over the weekend on a charge of driving while intoxicated, Coach Sean Payton had this to say: "I've had a chance to visit with Joe, the club is on top of all the specifics. I'm going to leave it at that."

The off-the-field brush with the law isn't ultimately going to decide Morgan's fate with the Saints, but a second incident very well could. Morgan is in serious competition at the receiver position with Nick Toon and rookie Kenny Stills.

Depth chart? What depth chart? Saints linebacker Victor Butler said today, "There is no depth chart in May." Judging by the shuffling on defense and offense in this OTA session he's right on the money.

Rookie Terron Armstead worked with the 1st team offense today. After practice, QB Drew Brees said, "If he earns the job, I trust him."

Rob Ryan is still trying to get to know his players, and it shows. Butler worked with the 2nd team defense after working with the 1st team last week. Jabari Greer was back with the first unit after spending last week with the second team.

Get the theme here? The Saints are no rush to settle on a player at a particular position this early in the process.

Harper: Saints safety Roman Harper restructured his contract last week, providing the team with some salary cap relief. "It's a better move for the entire team, for myself. A little more security and things like that. It answered a lot of questions, and it came at a perfect time, too.”

Harper has at times drawn the ire of fans for his vulnerability in pass coverage, and after the team drafted Kenny Vaccaro some fans wanted to send Harper packing. Today, Harper told us, "I didn't feel like packing up and moving anytime in the next couple of years.”

I felt like I was at the OTA with the description that Garic just gave. It has me very fired up. The team appears to be practicing with fire in the belly. Keep up the good work, Garic. This is the type of reporting Saints fans want to hear. Nothing like a normal off season.